The 

Howell  Collection 

OF   HISTORICAL 
MATERIALS 


Presented  by  Kay  Kyser 

And  his  Mother 

Emily  Royster  Howell  Kyser 

As  a  Memorial 

To  her  Brother 

Edward  Vernon  Howell 

Dean  School  of  Pharmacy 

1 897-1 93 1 


THE   UNIVERSITY 

OF 

NORTH   CAROLINA 

LIBRARY 

S733w         C.4 


00006777133 


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CENTS  a  day  thereafter.  ■ft~wa9-tafce«-w*t-«n 
the  (Jay  indicated  below:    *    '-*-^,* 


iirlart  IdIiIis  lpin|t 


.7 


);paxyi(l- 


SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE 


OF 


RICHARD  DOBBSSPAIGHT 

OF   NORTH   CAROLINA, 

# 

^  By  JOHX    H.  WHEELEK, 

Author   (ji-    "nisioRV   ok   North    Carolina,"   &c.,   &c. 


P.  A  I/riMORK: 

WILLIAM    K.    BOYLE,  PRINTEK, 
CoRNRK    St.   Pail    and    Baltimour    Streets. 

1880. 


:5 


V        A      J 


RICHARD  DOBBS  SPAIGIIT* 


The  recent  centennial  period  of  our  nation  was 
marked  by  a  spirit  of  historic  inquiry. 

Ooni^ress,  by  a  resolution  of  13tli  of  March,  1876, 
recommended  to  the  people  of  the  seyeral  States  to 
assemble  in  their  several  counties  or  towns,  at  the 
approaching  anniversary  of  our  National  Independence, 
and  that  they  cause  to  have  delivered  on  such  day  an 
liistorical  sketch  of  said  county  or  town,  so  that  a  com- 
plete record  miglit  thus  be  obtained  of  the  progress  of 
our  Institutions  during  the  tirst  centennial  of  their 
existence. 

This  resolve  Avas  promulgated  by  the  President,  on 
21st  May,  1876,  with  the  liope  that  tlie  object  of  such 
resolution  might  meet  the  approbation  of  the  people, 
and  that  proper  steps  might  be  taken  to  carry  the  same 
into  effect. 

The  committee  for  the  restoration  of  Independence 
Hall,  in  Philadelphia,  invited  the  presence  of  the 
American  Historians,  Biographers  and  Literati  at  that 
place  on  the  2nd  July,  1876,  (the  centennial  anniversary 
of  the  Resolutions  of  Independence,)  desiring  that  a 
biographical  sketch  of  every  individual,  whose  memory 
is  associated  with  the  building,  during  the  early  days  of 
the  Republic,  be  prepared  and  deposited  on  that  day 

♦From  advanced  sheets  of  Col.  John   H.  Wheeler's  forthcoming 
volume,  '*  Leading'  Men  of  North  Carolina." 
1 


2  Richard  Dohhs  Spaiglit. 

among-  the  arohives  of  the  Xational  Museum,  witli  the 
request  tliat  "these  sketehes  slioukl  not  exceed  two 
pages  of  foolscap." 

Wlien  I  accepted  the  invitaticm  which  I  had  the 
lionor  to  receive  in  ]March,  1876,  to  prepare  a  Memorial 
of  tlie  Life  and  Character  of  Eichard  Dobbs  Spaight, 
of  my  native  State,  I  felt  that  his  long-  and  illustrious 
services,  ample  records  of  which  I  had  in  my  possession, 
could  not  be  detailed  in  the  "two  pages  of  foolscap." 
Hence  the  memoir  presented  on  the  occasion  was 
"cribbed,  cabined  and  confined;"  and  although  kindly 
received,  was  not  satisfactory,  even  to  myself.  This  is 
the  motive  of  giving  a  more  extended,  and,  I  trust, 
satisfactory  record  of  one  who  had  "done  the  State 
some  service,"  over  whom  the  dust  of  time  was  slowly 
gathering. 

Eichard  Dobbs  Spaight  was  born,  lived  and  died  in 
^ewbern,  Xorth  Carolina. 

There  are  few  States  of  "the  old  thirteen,"  that  de- 
clared Independence  in  1776,  whose  early  history  is  more 
marked  by  interesting  incident,  or  by  acts  of  patriotic  re- 
solve and  daring,  than  Xorth  Carolina.  None  is  so  little 
known  to  our  Nation  at  large.*     It  Avas  on  her  shores 

*From  3r(l  volume  of  "Voyaji,es  and  Discoveries  of  the  Eiif2;lish 
Nation,  by  Eicbard  Halda;;'t,"  printed  at   London,  1000,  |)age  301: 

"The  first  voyages  made  to  the  coast  of  America,  with  two  barks, 
wherein  were  Captains  Philip  Amadus  and  Arthur  Barlow,  wlio  dis- 
covered the  country  now  called  Virjiinia,  anno  1584,  written  by  one 
of  said  Cai)tains,  and  sent  to  Sir  Walter  Kaleif>h,  Knight,  at  whose 
charge  and  direction  the  said  voyage  was  set  forth: 

"  'On  the  second  of  July,  we  found  shole  water,  when  we  smelt  so 
sweet  and  stirring  a  smeele  as  if  we  had  been  in  the  midst  of  some 
delicate  garden  abounding  in  all  kind  of  odoriferous  tiowers,  and  on 
the  fourth  we  arrived  on  the  coast.  After  thanks  given  to  God  for 
our  safe  arrival  thither,  we  manned  our  boats,  and  went  to  take  pos- 
session of  the  same,  in  the  right  of  the  Queenes  most  excellent  Ma- 
jestic, as  rightful  Queeue  aad  Priucesse  thereof.' 


Richard  Dohhs  Spaif/ht.  8 

that  the  Englishman  first  landed  on  the  Western  Con- 
tinent, on  Roanoke  Island,  in  1584^. 

The  iirst  declaration  of  inde])endence  of  the  English 
crown  was  made  in  Xorth  Carolina.  The  fearless  men 
of  Mecklenherg,  more  than  a  year  in  advance  of  the 
National  Congress,  assembled  in  May,  1775,  and  de- 
clared independence.  The  docnments  in  the  foot  note 
are  from  the  records  of  the  English  government,  and 
are  beyond  any  cavil.* 

'•'We  found  the  people  most  gentile,  loving  and  faithful,  voide  of 
all  guile  and  treason,  and  such  as  live  after  the  manner  of  the  golden 
age.  They  call  the  Island,  Kaonoak,  distant  from  the  harbour  we 
entered  seven  leagues.'"    Page  304. 

This  was  the  hrst  landing  of  the  English  on  our  continent,  and  is 
located  in  the  present  county  of  Dare,  in  the  extreme  eastern  part  of 
North  Carolina. 

The  first  conflict  in  arms  between  the  regular  forces  of  England 
and  the  Colonists  occurred  at  Alamance,  in  North  Carolina,  on  ICth 
May,  1771. 

The  conduct  of  the  Officers  of  the  (Jrowu  towards  the  people  was 
marked  by  oppression  and  fraud.  The  people  i)etitioned  in  vain  to 
the  Governor  (Tryon)  for  redress.  But  failing  to  obtain  this,  made 
open  resistance.  Governor  Tryon,  with  a  force  of  more  than  1100 
men,  met  the  Regulators,  as  they  were  termed,  led  by  Herman  Hus- 
bands and  others,  five  miles  west  of  Great  Alamance  river,  on  the 
road  leading  from  Hillsboro  to  Salisbury,  and  a  coutiict  ensued  in 
which  sixty  men  of  the  royal  forces  were  killed.  The  Kegulators, 
after  a  conflict  of  two  hours,  were  routed,  leaving  many  dead  and 
many  wounded.  Thus,  and  here,  was  the  first  blood  spilled  in  these 
United  States  in  resistance  to  the  exactions  of  English  rulers  and 
the  oppressions  of  the  English  Government.  The  great  principles 
contended  for  by  the  Kegulators — the  rights  of  the  many  against 
the  exactions  of  the  few — tlie  right  of  the  people  to  resist  all  taxes 
not  imposed  by  their  representatives — the  right  to  kiu)w  for  what 
the^-  i)aid  taxes,  and  how  sai<l  taxes  were  a])])ropriate<l — were  the 
principles  for  which,  in  1770,  independence  was  declared.  The  ofld- 
cial  account  of  the  Koyal  Governor,  Tryon,  of  this  battle,  is  given  in 
Wheeler's  History  of  N.  C,  Vol.  2,  p.  1(>. 

*From  State  Paper  Office,  London,  Vol.  1,  p.  204.  Extract  from  a 
Dispatch  from  Governor  Martin  to  Secretary  of  State,  dated 

(Continued.) 


4  Richard  Dohhs  Spaight. 

.Vmoiig  such  a  race  of  people,  and  animated  by  such 
prineiples,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born,  lived 
and  died.  A  faithful  record  of  his  services  will  com- 
mand tlie  deepest  interest  in  the  Histor}'  of  the  State 
in  wliich  he  was  a  prominent  actor. 

Biograpliy  has  one  advantage  over  History.  Both 
are  recorded  narratives.  While  History  details  facts 
relative  to  IS^ations,  Biography  gives  us  the  minute  acts 

"Fort  Johnston,  North  Carolina,  30th  June,  1775. 

"The  Minutes  of  tlie  Council  lield  at  this  place  the  other  day  will 
make  the  impotence  of  the  Government  here  as  apparent  to  your 
Lordsliip  as  anything  I  can  set  before  you. 

"The  situation  in  which  I  tind  myself  is  indeed,  my  Lord,  most 
desjiicable  and  mortifvini>'.  1  live,  alas,  inglorious,  only  to  deplore  it. 
The  resolves  of  the  Committee  of  JMechlenberg,  which  your  Lordship 
will  tind  in  the  enclosed  newspa])er,  sur])ass  all  the  horrid  and  trea- 
sonable i)ublications  that  the  inflammatory  s])irits  of  the  Continent 
have  yet  produced,  and  your  Lordshij)  may  depend  its  authors  and 
abettors  Avill  not  esca])e  when  my  hamls  are  sufficiently  strengthened 
to  attempt  the  re(;overy  of  the  lost  authority  of  the  Government.  A 
copy  of  these  resolves  was  sent  off,  as  I  am  informed,  by  exi)ress,  to 
the  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  as  soon  as  they  passed  in  the  Com- 
mittee." 

This  authentic  record  from  the  archives  of  the  English  Government 
places  this  fact  beyond  all  cavil,  doubt  or  question. 

Extiact  from  the  Proclamation  of  JosiaL  Martin,  Governor,  &c., 
of  Uis  Majesty's  Province  of  North  Carolina: 

"On  Board  of  His  Majesty's  Sloop,  the  Cruiser,  j 
In  Cape  Pear  Kiver,  Aug.  8th,  1775.      } 

"  Whereas,  I  have  seen  a  most  infamous  publication  in  the  Cape 
Fear  Mereunj^  imi)orting  to  be  the  resolves  of  a  set  of  people  styling 
themselves  a  Committee  for  the  county  of  Mecklenburg,  most  traito- 
romly  declaring  the  entire  dissolution  of  the  Laws,  Government  and 
the  Constitution  of  this  country,  and  sett'uuj  up  a  system  of  rule  re- 
pugnant to  the  Laws,  and  subversive  of  Ilis  Majesty's  Government: 

"  I  do  hereby  forewarn  the  people  against  such  act,  and  conjure 
them  to  persist  and  pursue  in  their  duty  and  allegiance." 

Note. — These  records  were  coi)ied  by  me  from  the  records  in  the 
State  Paper  Office,  Chancery  Lane,  London,  18G4.  J.  H.  W. 


Richard  Dohhs  Spaight.  5 

of  iuclividuals.  The  one,  like  the  splendid  eartoons  that 
decorate  the  walls  of  our  National  Capitol,  presents  to 
the  dazzled  eyes  of  tlu^  spectator  nuuierous  forms  and 
faces,  each  distinct  and  ditferent;  the  other,  like  the 
matchless  marble  of  Hondcm,  or  Greenough,  unveils 
a  single  figure,  in  all  its  i)erfect  proportions. 

"A  combination,  and  a  form  indeed, 
Where  every  God  did  seem  to  set  his  seal. 
To  give  tlie  workl  assurance  of  a  man." 

Indeed,  a  faithful  biography  of  any  distinguished  in- 
dividual is  often  the  most  satisfactory  account  of  the 
scenes  and  occurrences  in  which  he  was  a  conspicuous 
actor.  The  life  of  Washington  by  Marshall  is  the  best 
record  of  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  tow n  of  Newbern,*  where  Governor  Spaight  was 
born,  is  situated  in  the  eastern  part  of  North  Carolina, 
at  the  confluence  of  the  Neuse  and  Trent  rivers. 

Around  this  ancient  and  classic  town  are  clustered 
many  memories  of  rare  interest.  It  received  its  name 
from  the  emigrants  from  Switzerland,  in  memorial  of 
the  vine-clad  city  of  their  fotherland.  Here  landed  the 
Palatines  from  the  Rhine,  led  by  the  adventurous  De 
Graafenreidt  (1709,)  w  hose  valor  resisted  the  inroads  of 
the  savages,  and  whose  industry  made  the  "wilderness 
blossom  as  the  rose."  Here  was  the  seat  of  Royal 
Government,  long  directed  by  the  rule  of  Governor 
Dobbs ;  and  here  his  successor,  Tryon,  held  his  court, 
and  raised  a  palatial  mansion,  more  ornate  and  princely 
than  any  at  the  time  in  America.  From  tluit  day  to 
the  present,  Newbern  has  been  known  and  distinguished 
for  intelligence,  patriotism  and  hospitality,  which  have 
won  for  it  the  name  of  "  the  Athens  "  of  North  Carolina. 

In  this  town,  (m  the  25th  March,  1758,  was  Richard 

Dobbs  Spaight  born. 

*  More  frequently  now  written  New-Berne. 


6  Jxiclno-d   DohJhs  Spaiflht. 

His  fotlier,  Kicliard  Spaight,  was  a  natlTe  of  Ireland, 
of  an  ancient  and  honorable  family  whieli  still  preserves 
its  rank.*  He  was  api)()inted  bv  order  of  the  King  and 
Council,  dated  4th  February,  1757,  one  of  the  Council 
of  CTOvern(U'  I)ol)])s;  and  on  tlie  death  of  Henry  McCul- 
lock,  he  was  niad(^  the  Secretary  of  the  Crown  in  the 
Province  of  North  Carolina — a  position,  in  importance, 
next  to  that  of  tlie  Covernor. 

A  list  of  the  civil  officers  of  North  Carolina  at  this 
time  is  given,  whicli  may  interest  the  antiquarian  and 
some  of  their  descendants  who  are  yet  among  us.f 

*See  iJuike's  Landed  Gentry. 

t Extract  from  a  Dispatch  of  (Jovenior  Dobbs  to  tbe  Board  of 
Trade,  as  to  tlie  coiulitioii  of  the  Troviiice  of  North  Carolina,  dated 
1762. 

"The  names  of  the  Civil  OfHcers  on  the  Establishment  are: 

Kic'iiAKD  Spaight,  Secretaiy  and  Ch^rk  of  the  Cro\Yn,  appointed 
by  the  Governor  in  175G,  in  place  of  Henry  iMcCullock,  deceased. 

Mil.  Berry,  Chief  Justice,  appointed  b\  warrant  from  the  Crown 
in  IT.jl),  in  place  of  IMi-.  Ilenly,  deceased. 

Mr.  Hasell,  Baron,  appiunted  by  the  Governor  in  1760,  upon 
Mr.  Kieussett's  resij^nation. 

Hon.  and  Rev.  Mr.  Cholmondely,  Audit(n-  by  patent  on  rever- 
sion from  the  Crown,  upon  death  of  Lord  Walpole. 

1\OB]<:rt  Jones,  Attorney  General,  n))on  ]Mr.  Child's  resignation, 
by  warrant  trom  the  Crown  in  April,  1761, 

Mr.  Rutherford,  Receiver  General,  lestored  by  the  Lords  of  the 
Treasury,  after  havin<>-  been  suspended  in  17.^!). 

Mr.  iMcGuiRE,  -Judge  of  the  Admiralty,  appointed  by  the  Gov- 
ernor in  place  of  Mr.  Ross,  deceased,  in  176(K 

Mr.  Marm.  Jones,  Mr.  Charlton,  and  Mr.  Dewey,  appointed 
by  the  Governor,  Judges,  in  pursuance  of  an  Act  of  Assembly  passed 
1760,  to  erect  live  Suj)erior  Courts. 

John  Starke y,  Thomas  Barker,  Treasurers  of  the  Northern 
and  Southern  Districts. 

Mr.  Palmer,  Surveyor  General,  appointed  by  warrant  from  the 
Crown  in  175.j;  also  the  Collector  of  tlic  Port  of  Bath. 

Mr.  Dry,  Collector  of  Port  of  Brunswick. 

Mr.  RiEUSSETT.  Collector  of  Port  of  Roauoak. 


Richard  Bohhs  Spaighf.  7 

Mr.  Spaight  served  as  Pay  Master  to  the  troops  raised 
by  l^orth  Carolina  to  aid  General  Braddock ;  in  which 
campaign  Washington  took  his  first  h'ssons  in  war.  He 
married  :Margarct  Dobbs,  the  sister  of  Governor  Dobbs,* 

Mr.  AVhitehall,  Collector  of  Port  of  Currituck. 

Mr.  McCullock,  Collector  of  Port  of  Beaufort. 

These  are  all  api)ointed  by  the  Lords  of  the  Treasury  iti  Eu.yland, 
and  salaries  paid  from  thence.  The  other  officeis  are  paid  out  of  his 
^Majesty's  (piit  rents.  The  Auditor  £100  i)er  aiuuuu,  Chief  Justice 
£70,  Baron  £40,  Surveyor  General  £40,  Secretary  as  Clerk  of  the 
Crown  £25,  Attorney  General  £80."  From  Records  of  Board  of 
Trade,  X.  C. 

*We  give  the  genealogy  of  the  Uobbs  family  from  which  Gov. 
Spaight  descended,  by  his  mother's  side,  from  authentic  sources.  In 
our  country,  especially  in  the  South,  we  are  behind  the  age  as  to 
genealogy.  In  England,  the  subject  is  one  of  elaborate  research. 
In  New  England  genealogical  societies  abound,  sustained  by  a 
Quarterly  Periodical.  Every  tamily  in  this  section  is  proud  of  its 
genealogical-tree.  Annual  meetings  occur  under  their  ancestral  roof- 
tree,  where  traditions,  hallowed  by  time,  are  preserved,  the  lines  of 
consanguinity  traced,  and  the  ties  of  atfection  strengthened.  Some 
may,  with  pragmatic  indifference,  deride  such  efltbrts,  but  surely  no 
one  can  be  insensible  to  the  satistying  feeling  of  having  descended 
from  an  honest  and  virtuous  ancestry,  and  of  being  connected  with 
persons  of  unsullied  reputation,  of  genius  and  intellect.  It  instils  a 
hatred  of  inactivity  and  vice,  and  stimulates  to  usefulness  and  virtue. 
From  Dictionary  of  American  Biography.    By  Francis  Drake.    Boston : 

Osgood  &  Co.,  1872. 

Dobbs,  Arthur,  Gov.,  of  N.  C,  born  in  Ireland,  2nd  April,  1089, 
and  died  at  Town  Creek,  N.  C,  on  2()th  March,  17G5.  He  was  a  man 
of  letters,  of  liberal  views,  had  been  a  member  of  the  Irish  Parlia- 
ment, and  distinguished  for  his  efforts  to  discover  the  North  West 
passage.  As  Governor  of  N.  C,  he  adopted  conciliatory  measures 
toward  the  Indian  tribes,  but  his  administration  was  a  continued 
struggle  with  the  Legislature  on  unimportant  matters,  dis])laying  on 
his  part  an  ardent  zeal  for  royal  ]n-erogatives,  and  an  indomitable 
resistance  on  the  part  of  the  colonists.  He  was  the  author  of  "An 
Account  of  the  Countries  Adjoining  the  Hudson  Bay,"  (4to.,  London, 
1748.)  "Trade  and  Improvement  of  Ireland,"  (8vo.,  Dublin,  1729,) 
and  "  Captain  Middleton's  Defence,"  (8vo.,  1744.)     (Continued.) 


8  Richard  Dohhs  Spaiglit. 

whose  administration,  as  ruler  of  Xortli  Carolina,  was 
in  tuniultuons  times.  Tlie  liigli  estimate  that  Governor 
Dobbs  placed  on  his  prerogatives  as  the  representative  of 
royalty,  was  sternly  opposed  by  the  people  and  their 
representatives,  and   ])rodn('ed  angry  and  violent  colli- 

DOBBS  OF   CASTLE  DOBBS. 

From  Genealof/ical  and  Heraldic  Dicfwnary  of  the  Landed  Gentry  of 

Oreat  Britain  and  Ireland,  d:c.     By  J.  Bernard  Burke.     London  : 

CoUmrn  &  Co.,  1853. 

''Tills  fjimily  was  established  in  Ireland  by  John  Dobbs,  who 
accompanied  Sir  Henry  Dockwod  to  that  country  in  lo9G,  and  was 
subsequently  his  Deputy  as  Treasurer  for  Ulster.  This  John  Dobbs, 
who  is  stated  to  have  been  p-andson  of  Sir  Richard  Dobbs,  l^ord 
Mayor  of  London  in  1551,  married  Marjiaret,  only  child  of  John  Dak- 
way  of  Ballyhill,  and  had  by  her  two  sons,  Foulk  and  Hercules. 

"Foulk  was  lost  with  his  father,  returning  from  England;  and 
Hercules,  who  succeeded  to  his  father's  property,  married  Magdalen 
West,  of  Ballydougan  co.,  Downs,  and  left  an  only  son. 

"Kichard  Dobbs,  who  died  in  1701,  leaving  his  estate  to  his 
younger  son,  (his  eldest  turinng  Quaker,  was  disinherited,)  Richard 
Dobbs,  of  Castletown,  born  1000.  He  married  (second  time)  Mar- 
garet Clingston,  of  Belfast,  by  whom  he  had  three  daughters. 
Among  them  Margaret,  who  married  Richard  Spaigiit.  He  was 
High  Sheriif  of  Antrim  in  1094,  and  died  in  1711.  His  eldest  son 
was 

Arthur  Dobbs,  born  on  2nd  April,  1089:  lie  was  High  Sheriff  of 
Antrim  in  1720;  for  niauy  yeair.  TJember  of  Parliament  for  Carrick- 
Tgr^Tu;;  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Capt.  Osburn  of  Drogheda,  and 
relicjt  of  Capt.  Norbury,  by  whom  he  acquired  an  estate  at  Timakoe, 
and  had  Conway  Riciiard  (his  heir,)  Edward  Brice,  Frances,  and 
Mary  who  married  Dean  Ryder.  Mr.  Dobbs  was  appointed  Engi- 
neer and  Surveyor  General  of  Ireland,  and  in  1753  was  sent  out  as 
Governor  of  North  Carolina,  where  he  acquired  great  possessions,  and 

die<l  there. 

His  son  Conway  died  at  Beltast  in  1811,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
eldest  son,  Kichard  Dobbs,  who  married  Nicolini,(hiughter  of  Michael 
Obyns,  of  Portowu,  and  had  issue,  Conway  Richard,  the  present  rep- 
resentative of  the  family,  who  resides  at  Castle  Dobbs,  Antrim,  Ire- 
laud. 

Crest:   Unicorn's  head. 

Motto:  "Amor  Dei  et  proximi  summa  bealitmU).'' 


Richard  Dohhs  Spaigld.  \) 

sions  between   the  Executive  and  Legislative    Depart- 
ments of  the  Government. 

So  frequent  and  fierce  were  these  contests  between 
the  <><)vernor  and  tlie  Leiiislature,  that  the  a^ed  hands 
of  Gov.  Dol)bs  (noAV  in  his  7()tli  year)  were  strengtliened 
by  the  Government  at  home  by  the  appointment  of 
William  Tryon  as  Lieutenant  Governor,  and  who,  upon 
the  death  of  Gov.  D.  in  1705,  became  (iovernor  of  the 
Colony  of  Xorth  Carolina. 

A  county  was  formed  in  1754,  called  Dobbs  county ; 
but  in  1791  the  name  was  abolished  and  the  territory 
divided  into  Lenoir  and  Ghasgow  counties.  In  179J)  the 
latter  was  changed  to  Greene. 

A  fort  was  erected  in  Western  North  Carolina  called 
Fort  Dobbs;  and  the  Governor  owned  large  landed 
possessions  on  Rocky  River. 

Such  were  the  ancestors  of  Richard  IJobbs  Spaight, 
who  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  his  uncle,  was  seven 
years  old.  His  parents  died  soon  after.  At  the  age  of 
nine  he  was  sent  abroad  to  receive  an  education,  which 
was  finished  at  the  University  of  Glasgow,  in  Scotland. 

On  hearing  that  his  native  land  Avas  involved  in  war, 
he  returned  in  1778  to  America;  and  although  not 
trained  to  arms  by  education  or  tastes,  he  promptly  ten- 
dered his  services,  then  only  twenty  years  old,  to  CJen. 
Richard  Caswell,  who  commanded  a  North  Carolina 
brigade  in  the  Southern  Army  under  General  Gates, 
and  served  as  akl-de-eamp  to  General  Caswell  at  the  ill- 
fated  battle  of  Camden,  (16th  Aug.,  1780,)  where  the 
British,  under  Lord  Cornwallis,  defcjitcd  the  Americans 
under  Gates.  Banm  De  Kalb,  Major  Porterfield,  and 
many  others  fell  in  battle,  and  Gen.  Rutherfoi'd  and 
others  were  taken  prisoners.  The  victory  of  British 
arms  was  complete,  and  the  hopes  of  the  patriots  for  a 
time  Avere  crushed.  Gates  retreated  to  Hillsboro, 
where  the  Legislature  Avas  in  session,  AA'ith  GoAernor 
2 


10  I^iehnrd  Dohhs  Spaight. 

Xash  i)rosi(liiig-.  A  Court  of  Enquiry  ceii.snrcd  Gen. 
Gates,  and  (Jen.  Greene  was  appointed  Commander  of 
the  Sontliern  Army. 

This  nnhappy  experienee  in  war  did  not  inij)roye  the 
taste  of  IMr.  Sipjiiiiht  for  the  profession  of  arms.  But 
he  was  destined  to  ligure  in  scenes  in  the  great  drama  of 
life,  the  duties  of  which  demanded  equal  courage  and 
sacrifices,  and  in  wliich  battles  and  blood  were  the  in- 
evitable consecpiences.  He  returned  home,  and  on 
attaining-  his  majority,  the  next  year,  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  tlie  General  Assembl}^  from  the  boio'  of  Xew- 
bern,  and  re-elected  in  1782  and  1783. 

By  tlie  hitter  Assembly,  lie  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Congress  (confederation)  which  assembled  at  An- 
napolis on  the  23rd  December,  1783,  with  Hugh  Wil- 
liamson, (the  Historian  of  North  Carolina)  who,  like 
Mr.  Spaight,  had  been  in  the  army,  and  like  him  was 
in  the  battle  of  Camden,  and  Benjamin  Hawkins  (after- 
wards a  Senator  in  Congress,  1789,)  as  colleagues.  On 
that  day,  Mr.  Spaight  witnessed  the  resignation  of 
George  Washington  to  Congress  of  his  commission  as 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Armies  of  America,  an 
epoch  ever  memorable  in  the  annals  of  our  nation. 
In  this  illustri(ms  body  Mr.  Spaight,  although  one  of 
the  youngest,  (being  only  25  years  old,)  was  also  one  of 
the  most  useful  and  active  members.  His  portrait  in 
this  body  of  Fatres  Conscnpti,  by  Trumbull,  is  pre- 
served, and  now  graces  the  rotnnda  of  the  Ca])itol.  By 
this  body  his  talents  were  duly  appreciated,  since  he  was 
placed  on  many  of  the  most  imi)ortant  committees,  to 
which  subjects  of  the  gravest  character  were  referred. 
He  was  on  a  committee  headed  by  Thomas  Jetferson, 
to  devise  a  ])lan  for  the  temporary  government  of  the 
western  territory. 


Richard  Dohbs  Sjndf/M.  11 

On  tlie  29th  of  the  same  month  he  was  elected,  by 
ballot  of  the  Congress,  one  of  the  (^)mniittee  of  States, 
which  body  possessed  and  wielded  all  tli('  ix^wers  of 
irovernment.  Tliis  body  had  the  power  to  appoint  all 
civil  and  military  olhcers,  and  to  repeal  any  act  of  Con- 
gress. The  Conimittee  of  States  met  on  the  4th  of  Jnne 
followins?,  at  Trenton,  New  Jersey ;  Samncl  Hardy,  of 
Yiro-inia,  was  chosen  Chairman.  The  Jonrnals  of  this 
body  prove  that  Mr.  Spaight  was  an  attentive,  active, 
and  useful  member. 

He  was  elected  by  the  Legislature  of  North  Carcdina, 
in  January,  1787.  a"  delegate  to  the  Convenlion  to  form 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  which  body  met 
at  Philadelphia  on  the  11th  of  May  following,  and  was 
presided  over  by  George  Washington.  His  c(dleagues 
were  William  Blount  (appointed,  rice  Richard  Caswell,) 
and  Hugh  Williamson  (appointed,  rice  Wilie  Jones.*) 
In  this  bodv  Mr.  Spaight  took  an  active  part.  He  pro- 
posed and  urged  that  the  selection  of  the  members  of 
the  Senate  should  be  made  by  the  States,  and  that  the 
term  of  service  should  be  seven  years.  (Elliott's  De- 
bates, page  86.)  He  also  proposed  that  the  Executive 
term  should  be  seven  years.  The  records  of  this  body 
prove  that  his  attendance  was  regular,  and  that  be 
manifested  a  deep  interest  in  the  vital  ciucstions  dis- 
cussed. No  member  was  more  conversant  with  tbeir 
deliberations,  which  knowledge  was  usefully  dis- 
played in  a  Convention  which  assembled  at  Hillsboro', 
on 'the  21st  July,  1788,  to  deliberate  and  determine 
the  proposed  plan  of  the  Federal  Government.  He 
proved  himself  the  ready  and  able  exponent  of  the  Con- 

*The  celebrated  Naval  beio,  Jolm  Paul  Jones,  whose  name  was 
orioinally  John  Paul,  came  to  North  Carolina  after  leaving  Sc;otland, 
and  visitin.u  Wilie  Jones  and  his  brotlu-r,  and  tl>eir  fiunilies.  became 
so  warm  an  admirer  that  he  took  their  name  ''  Joues." 


12  Richard  Ihhhs  Spaight. 

stitution  and  its  fearless  advocate ;  and  althonuii  a 
decided  Jett'ersonian  republican,  he  was  coadjutor  of 
Pavie,  Johnstone,  Iredell  and  others,  in  urging-  its 
adoption.  But  all  in  vain.  He  might  well  have  ex- 
claimed, as  Hector  did  of  Troy  : — 

"  Si  Pergama  dextra 
Depeiuli  possent  etiam  liac  defeiisa  fuissent."* 

This  Body  rejected  the  Constitution  by  100  votes. 
Thns  Xorth  Carolina  presented  the  anomalous  condition 
of  a  State  originally  in  the  confederation,  and  yet  not 
in  the  Union.  Consequently  North  Carolina  did  not 
vote  in  the  first  Presidential  election.  This  rejection 
produced  much  apprehension  among  the  friends  of  the 
Government,  among  whom  was  Governor  Spaight,  and 
specially  General  Washington.  On  the  invitation  of 
Governor  Spaight,  Washington  visited  North  Carolina 
with  the  hope  of  intluencing  the  people  in  favor  of  the 
Constitution.  Such  was  the  eft'ect  of  their  counsels, 
that  subsequently  the  ^tate  in  Convention,  at  Fayette- 
ville  on  the  21st  November,  1788,  ratified  that  Instru- 
ment, and  North  Car(dina  became  a  men)ber  of  the 
Union.  General  Washington  made  an  extensive  tour 
in  North  Carolina ;  he  was  in  Salem  and  Salisbury, 
and  did  much  to  render  the  new  Constitutionf  popu- 
lar. In  this  he  was  aided  by  Governor  Spaight,  and 
other  patriots  of  the  day. 

*If  Troy  could  luive  been  defended 
Tliis  liglit  liaiid  liad  done  it. 

+Wlien  alluding  to  Constitutions,  it  may  be  well  to  remark  that  by 
many  it  is  sui)i)osed  that  our  Constitution,  as  a  State,  formed  as  early 
as  the  18th  De(;ember,  1776,  at  Halifax,  was  one  of  the  first  State 
Constitutions  formed,  if  not  the  first,  and  so  ably  formed  that  it 
stood  for  nearly  sixty  years  without  aniendment.  This  is  error. 
When  the  Kevolutiouary  War  bad  commenced,  and  the  existence  of 


Richard  Dobhs  Spaujlit.  13 

After  tliis  long;  and  laborious  service  in  ('(nistitiitioiml 
Conventions  (Federal  and  State,)  tlic  IkmIiIi  of  .Mr. 
Spaiglit  gave  Avay,  and  lie  retired,  for  this  canse,  from 
any  pnblie  duty.  The  West  Indies,  and  other  mild 
climates,  were  resorted  to  for  alleviation  and  relicl',  l)ut 
he  never  again  enjoyed  perfect  liealtli.  Hut  his  age 
(then  only  30,)  his  tirniness,  ])atience  and  regular  habits 
so  far  trium])hed,  that  after  an  absence  of  four  years 
from  public  service,  he  was  enabled  to  return  home, 
determined  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  repose 
and  retirement.  But  such  was  the  ap])reciation  of  his 
services  by  his  fellow  citizens,  and  their  admiration  for 
his  talents  and  his  character,  that  in  1792  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  Legislature,  and  by  that  body  he  was 
chosen  Governor  of  the  State.  He  w^as  the  first  native 
of  North  Carolina  that  was  chosen  as  her  Chief  ^Magis- 
trate.  It  is  not  very  complimentary  to  the  State  that 
her  first  seven  Governors,  from  CasAvell  (in  177G)  to 
Martin  (in  1792,)  and  all  of  the  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  w^ere  born  in  other  States. 

Fortunately  for  the  enfeel)led  health  of  Governoi- 
Spaight,  his  administration  had  fallen  on  the  mild  rule 
of  General  Washington,  whose   prudent  and   sagacious 

some  otlier  goveinmeut  tliiiii   that  of  England  was  a  nece.s.sit.v,  tlie 
Continental   (Congress,   by   a  resolve  of  the  3r<l   November,  1775", 
recommended  to  the  Colonies  to  ado])t  such   goveninient  as  should 
best  conduce  to  their  safety. 
New  Hampshire  formed  a  State  Constitution  on .  December,  21st,  1 775. 

South  Carolina March  20th,  1770. 

Virginia June  19th,  1770. 

New  Jersey July  lUth,  1770. 

Pennsylvania August,  12th,  1770. 

Delaware August  lOth,  177G. 

North  Carolina Decend)er  18th,  1776. 

Georgia February  oth,  1777. 

New  York       Ai)ril  — , . 

Jainieson  on  Constitutional  Conventions. 


14  Bicliard  Dohhs  Sp((i(jM. 

policy  com  111  a  11  (led  the  support  and  adiniratioii  of  his 
coiintrvmeii,  and  party  spirit  was  subdued  and  silent. 
And,  too,  from  the  limited  executive  powers  prescribed 
by  the  State  Constitution,  the  duties  of  Governor  did 
not  require  any  great  intellectual  exertion.  The  framers 
of  the  Constitution  in  177()  luid  witnessed  and  had 
become  so  disgusted  with  "  high  fantastic  tricks  "  of  the 
Royal  Governors,  that  they  vibrated  to  the  other  ex- 
treme, and  gave  to  the  Executive  but  little  ])OAver  and 
less  xiatronage.  This  Avas  expressed  by  a  member  of  the 
body  which  formed  that  instiument,  when  on  his  return 
home  he  was  asked  what  powers  were  vested  in  the  Gov- 
ernor by  the  Constitution,  replied:  "Power,  sir!  Only 
the  power  to  sign  a  receipt  for  his  salary,  and  nothing 
more." 

In  1793,  while  Governor,  he  was  elected  and  served 
as  Elector  for  President  and  Yice-President,  and  again 
ill  1797.  It  was  during  his  administration  that  the 
Legislature  met,  for  the  tirst  time,  in  the  city  of  Raleigh, 
on  30th  December,  1794.  The  place  for  the  meeting  of 
the  Legislature  had  hitherto  been  undetermined:  First, 
at  Little  River,  in  1715,  in  Perquimans  county ;  then 
at  ditfereiit  jilaces,  depending  on  the  will  of  the  Gov- 
ernor, or  the  caprice  of  the  Legislature — Edenton,  Fay- 
etteville,  Hillsboro,  Kingstim,  Kewbern,  Smith lield, 
^aleni,  Tarboro,  Wake  Court  House,  and  perhaps  other 
points,  have  enjoyed  this  homn-.* 

This  necessarily  produced  great  confusion  in  the  early 
records  of  the  State,  and  many  were  misplaced  and 
lost. 

The  Convention  that  met  to  consider  the  Federal 
Constitution  in  1788,  appointed  ten  commissioners,  who 
met  in  1792,  and  selected  the  place  where  it  now  is. 

♦Address  of  Hon.  Kemp  P.  Battle,  on  "  Eail.>  Days  of  Raleigh." 
1876. 


Richard  Dohhs  Sjxdfiht.  15 

Diji-ing  the  administration  of  Governor  Spaight,  the 
Indians  in  Western  North  Carolina  became  tronhle- 
some,  in  tlie  new  eounty  of  Bnncomhe,  wliieh  had  l)een 
recently  created  (1791.)  He  appointed  in  Jnly,  171U, 
D.  Yance,  ancestor  of  the  present  Governor  of  ih^  State, 
0(donel,  with  antliority  to  raise  "scouts  or  patroles," 
for  the  protection  of  the  frontier. 

The  dithcnlties  between  France  and  England,  and 
other  European  Governments,  caused  Governor  Spaight 
to  issue  on  25th  September,  1793,  a  l*roclaniation  en- 
joining strict  neutrality  between  the  belligeri^nts.  He 
believed  and  practiced  the  wise  ])olicy  of  Washington — 
friendship  with  all  nations  and  entangling  alliances 
with  none.  He  ordered  the  privateers,  which  were 
being  fitted  out  at  AVilmington,  to  be  seized.  This  in- 
vohed  him  in  a  controversy  with  Timothy  Bloodworth, 
then  a  Senator  in  Congress,  and  with  William  H.  Hill, 
the  District  Attorney  of  the  United  States.  Governor 
Spaight  received  the  acknowledgments  of  the  President 
and  Secretary  of  War,  (H.  Knox,)  for  his  prudent  and 
patriotic  conduct.  On  the  2()th  of  March,  1794,  the 
embargo  Avas.  laid ;  war  with  England  was  imminent. 
In  May  following,  Governor  Spaight  was  retiuested  b}' 
the  President  to  raise  and  equip  7331  nu'u  in  ^Alay, 
1794.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1794,  the  Wilmington 
Light  Infantry  formed  a  company. 

The  Governor  of  Massachusetts,  Samuel  Adams,  on 
the  9th  of  October,  1793,  informed  Governor  Spaight 
that  in  a  suit  of  Yassal  vs.  Massachusetts,  the  Governor, 
(then  John  Hancock,)  had  been  cited  to  appear;  that 
the  Governor  doubted  and  disputed  this  right  of  the 
Court,  and  had  summoned  the  Legislature,  whicli  had 
declared  against  the  exercise  of  such  power,  and  solicit- 
ing our  Legislature  to  consider  the  question.  The 
Legislature    of    Xorth    Carolina,    in    response,    passed 


16  Richard  Dohhs  Spaight. 

similar  resolutions,  denying  the  riglit  and  power  of  the 
Court. 

A  similar  point  was  raised  by  ]\Ir.  Jetferson,  wlio, 
when  President,  was  summoned  in  the  ease  of  United 
States  vs.  Burr,  at  Kiclimond,  and  recently  the  point 
was  raised  in  Pennsylvania  by  Governor  John  F. 
Hartranft. 

The  subject  of  edueatimi  was  one  Aery  dear  to  Gov- 
ernor 8paight.  During  his  term  of  ottiee,  the  Univer- 
sity had  been  located  at  Chapel  Hill,  and  by  a  previous 
Act,  (1789,)  he  was  one  of  the  Trustees  appointed,  the 
Board  of  which  was  composed  of  Johnstone,  Iredell, 
Davie,  Williamson,  Cabarrus,  Blount,  Mebane  and  other 
distinguished  men  of  the  State.* 

The  letter-book  of  Governor  Spaight  shows  other  but 
less  important  matters,  but  in  all  his  deep  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  the  State. 

After  serving  his  constitutional  term  of  three  years, 
Governor  Spaight  was  succeeded  in  1795  by  Samuel 
Ashe,  and  he  retired,  as  he  hoped,  forever  from  the  cares 
of  public  life.  About  this  time,  being  then  thirty-seven 
years  of  age,  lu3  mari-icnl  ]Miss  Mary  Leach,  of  Holmes- 
burg,  Pa.,  who  was  of  the  highest  social  position,  and 
of  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  influential  families. 

But  circumstances  seemed  to  dcfv  his  expectations  of 
retirement.  Nathan  Bryan,  a  meniber  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  from  the  Xewbern  District  died,  and  a 
successor  had  to  be  elected.  The  public  voice  demanded 
again  the  services  of  Governor  Spaiglit.  He  was  elected, 
and  took  liis  seat  in  Congress  cm  tlie  10th  of  December, 
1798,  (3rd  Session,  5th  Congress,)  Jonatlian  Dayton,  of 
New  Jersey,  being  the  speaker.  He  Avas  re-elected  a 
member  of  the  (Hh  Congress,  from  1799  to  the  1th  of 
March,  1801.     Theodore  SedgcAvick,  of  Massachusetts, 

*Hou.  B.  F.  Moore  ou  Uuiversity  of  North  Carolina,  1877. 


Richard  Dohhs  /Spffir/ht.  17 

was  the  Speaker.  His  feeble  health  durincj  these  terms, 
as  the  Journals  show,  prevented  his  takinu  nn  active 
part  in  the  proccecliniis.  He  did  not  take  his  sc^at  in 
the  Cth  Congress  until  the  2nd  of  January,  ISOO.  His 
colleagues  were  Timothy  Bloodworth  and  Jesse  Frank- 
lin in  the  Senate,  and  Willis  Alston,  Jos.  Dixon, William 
Barry  Grove,  Archibald  Henderson,  Wm.  H.  Hill, 
Nathaniel  Macon,  Kichard  Stanford,  David  Stone  and 
Kobert  Williams,  in  the  House. 

This  was  a  dark  period  in  the  history  of  our  Republic. 
Questions  of  the  gravest  character  Avere  de1)ated  with 
ability,  virulence  and  zeal.  The  Alien  and  Sedition 
laws  were  advocated  by  the  friends  of  the  Administra- 
tion, and  other  obnoxious  measures. 

For  the  first  time  in  our  history  the  election  of  a  Presi- 
dent devolved  upon  the  House  of  Representatives  in 
Congress.  On  counting  the  votes  of  the  States,  (138,) 
it  was  reported  by  the  tellers  that  of  these  votes  Thomas 
Jeiferson  received  73  votes,  Aaron  Burr  73  votes,  John 
Adams  G5  votes,  C.  C.  Pinckney  61,  and  John  Jay  1. 

There  being  no  choice  by  the  people,  the  House  pro- 
ceeded, on  the  11th  of  February,  1801,  in  the  manner 
prescribed  by  the  Constitution,  to  the  choice  of  a  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  On  the  first  ballot,  eight 
States  voted  for  Thomas  Jefi'erson;  six  States  voted  for 
Aaron  Burr,  and  the  votes  of  two  States  were  blank. 
The  balloting  continued,  with  the  same  results,  until 
Tuesday,  the  17th  of  February,  when,  on  the  3()th  ballot, 
the  Speaker  declared  that  Mr.  Jefferson  had  received 
the  votes  of  ten  States;  that  Mr.  Burr  had  received  the 
votes  of  four  States,  and  that  the  votes  of  two  States 
were  blank.  Consequently,  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected. 
(See  Hickey's  Const.,  311.) 


18  JRicJfard  Dohhs  Spaic/ht. 

Governor  kSpaight  voted  invariably  with  Alston, 
Macon,  Stanford,  Stone  and  Williams  for  Jeiferson; 
while  Dickson,  Grove,  Henderson  and  Hill  voted  for 
Burr.  Gen.  Dickson  finally  voted  for  Jeiferson.  (See 
Annals  of  Congress,  1801.) 

This,  as  has  been  stated,  was  a  critical  period  in  the 
history  of  our  Government.  The  very  foundations  of 
the  Constitution  seemed  to  be  broken  up,  and  the  deluge 
of  anarchy  and  confusion  to  overspread  the  land.    Then 

"  Shrieked  the  timid  and  stood  still  the  brave." 

But  the  ark  finally  outrode  the  storm,  and  rested  on 
the  Ararat  of  safet}.  The  crisis  was  rightfully  set- 
tled, for  it  was  j)atent  to  all,  then,  as  is  to  all  now,  that 
Mr.  Jefferson  and  Mr.  Adams  only  were  the  contending 
candidates  for  President,  and  that  Mr.  Jefferson  received 
a  majority  over  Mr.  Adams  in  the  popular  as  well  as 
the  electoral  vote.  Hence  the  advocacy  of  the  claims 
of  Mr.  Burr  was  instigated  on  the  part  of  his  friends 
by  party  passion  and  deliberate  fraud,  and  on  his  part 
by  unhallowed  ambition. 

"  The  sin  whereby  the  Angels  fell." 

This  difficulty  for  the  future  was  remedied  by  an 
amendment  (Article  XII)  to  the  Constitution.  Other 
amendments  in  this  respect  are  demanded  by  recent  ex- 
perience, and  which  doubtless  will  receive  the  consider- 
ation of  Congress.* 

When  in  England  in  1SG4,  conversing  with  a  member 
of  Parliament,  who  was  well  informed  and  curious  as  to 

*Mr.  Jertersoii,  in  a  letter  dated  J2th  .Inly,  1810,  to  Saninel  Kerch- 
eval,  insists  that  no  Constitntion  onght  to  go  longer  than  twenty 
years  without  an  opportunity  being  given  to  the  i)eople  to  alter  or 
amend  it.     (See  Jefferson's  Works,  vii :  9.) 


Richard   Dohhs   Spaif/hf.  10 

the  Avorkiiio-8  of  our  governinciit,  I  was  asked  if  wc  had 
any  tribunal  which  had  the  power  to  examine  and  settle 
a  contested  election  for  President,  in  cases  of  alleged 
fraud,  error  or  corruption.  When  informed  there  was 
none,  he  i)ronounccd  "our  government  a  rope  of  saud, 
which  the  tirst  storm  of  popuhir  jdirenzy  mi,i>ht  shatter 
to  pieces."  In  the  Appendix  is  presented  the  views  of 
Lord  Macauhiy  on  our  Government.*  In  the  ])rivate 
memoirs  of  Washington,  by  Curtis,  (leneral  Hamilton, 
as  to  our  Constitution,  said  to  General  Washington: 
"Xow,  mark  my  words,  so  long  as  we  are  a  young  and 
virtuous  people,  the  Constitution  will  bind  us  togctlicr 
in  mutual  interests,  in  mutual  welfare,  and  in  mutnal 
happiness;  but  when  we  become  old  and  corrupt,  it  will 
bind  us  no  longer." 

Thus  fiir  our  Eepublic  has  stood  the  shocks  of  foreign 
war  and  intestine  convulsions  for  a  century,  and  is  the 
acknowledged  peer  of  tlie  most  prosperous  nation  on 
earth.     May  Ave  not  hope  that  it  will  be  perpetual? 

"Thou,  too,  sail  on,  O  .ship  of  State 
Sail  oil,  O  Union,  .strong  and  jireat 
Humanity,  with  all  its  tears, 
Is  banging  breathless  on  thy  fate. 
We  know  what  masters  laid  thy  keel. 
What  workmen  wrought  thy  ribs  of  steel, 
Who  made  each  mast  and  sail  and  rope, 
What  anvils  rang,  what  hammers  beat, 
In  what  forge,  in  what  a  heat. 
Were  shaped  the  anchors  of  thy  hope.'' 

After  the  excitement  and  labors  of  this  extraordinary 
session  of  CcmgrevSS,  Governor  Spaight  returned  liome 
exhausted,  with  the  fixed  purpose  of  retiring  from 
public  life.  He  declined  a  re-election  to  Congress,  and 
sought  repose.  But  the  accession  of  the  Kepublican 
party  to  power  and  i)atronage,  added  fresh  fuel  to  the 
desperate  fortunes  of  the  federal  forces,  and  party  spirit, 
*See  Appendix. 


20  Eichard  Dohhs  Spaight. 

in  deinoniac  fury,  raged  with  a  ferocity  unparalleled  in 
tbe  history  of  our  country,  before  or  since.  Governor 
Si)aight  was  the  accepted  and  acknowledged  leader  of 
the  Republican  party,  while  Mr.  Stanly  Avas  the  astute 
and  able  advocate  of  the  Federalists. 

The  people  demanded  then  the  continued  services  of 
Governor  Spaight,  and  elected  him  to  the  State  Senate. 
Mr.  Stanly  was  elected  in  that  year  (1801)  the  member 
of  Congress  from  the  Newbern  District.  Frequent  dis- 
cussions between  these  champions  of  the  two  parties 
occurred.*  It  is  recorded  that  the  conduct  of  Governor 
Spaight  in  these  discussions  was  marked  by  the  strictest 
decorum;  while  he  respected  the  feelings  and  rights  of 
others,  his  manhood  repelled  any  attempt  to  impugn  his 
sincerity  or  honor.  The  correspondence  shows  that  the 
course  of  Mr.  Stanly  was  personal  and  caustic.  He 
charged  that  Governor  Spaight  dodged^  under  the  pre- 
tence of  sickness,  when  any  important  vote,  on  any 
objectionable  measure,  Avas  taken  in  Congress.  This 
aspersion  was  repelled  by  Governor  Spaight  in  a  hand- 
bill, which  Mr.  Stanly  denounced  "as  containing  humili- 
ating tilth,"  and  for  which  he  sent  a  challenge  to  Gover- 
nor Spaight  to  mortal  combat;  and  although,  like  Ham- 
ilton, no  advocate  of  violence  or  of  duelling,  GoAcrnor 
Spaight,  like  Hamilton,  accepted  promptly  the  call,  and 
also,  like  Hamilton,  he  fell.  From  his  enfeebled  condi- 
tion— for  he  could  scarcely  hold  steadily  a  pistol — he 
might  have  declined  the  invitation.  This  tragic  event 
caused  a  deep  sensation  throughout  the  Avhole  country, 
and  is  still  remembered  Avith  mournful  interest. 

In  the  "  Recollections  of  NcAvbern  Fifty  Years  Ago," 
by  Stephen  F.  Miller,t  it  is   recorded  that  "  this  duel 

•Address  at  Newbern  of  Kev.  J.  T.  Irviiii^,  on  the  death  of  Gov- 
ernor Spaight. 

tSee  Our  Living  and  Our  Dead,  Raleigh,  January,  1875.. 


RicharfJ  Dobhs  Spa  iff ht.  21 

was  foui^lit  on  5tli  September,  1802,  behind  the  old 
Masonic  Hall,  in  the  outskirts  of  Newbern.  An  eye 
witness  (Thomas  Brown,  since  Fostmastxn*  at  Trenton,) 
informed  me  that  on  the  second  tire  the  bullet  pierced 
the  coat  collar  of  ]Mr.  Stanly  ;  on  the  fourth  tire  General 
Spaii»ht  was  mortally  wounded,  and  died  the  next  day. 
(^riminal  proceedings  were  instituted  against  Stanly." 
The  jx'tition  of  Mr.  Stanly  for  pardon  fr<mi  the  Gov- 
ernor (Williams)  may  be  found  in  the  History  of  North 
Carolina,*  and  also  a  copy  of  the  challenge  and  accept- 
ance. A  funeral  oration  was  delivered  over  his  remains 
by  his  Rector  and  life-long  friend.  Rev.  J.  T.  Irving. 
Two  life  size  portraits  of  him  are  preserved  in  the  Inde- 
pendence Hall,  in  Philadelphia. 

When  aware  that  the  wound  was  mortal,  Governor 
Spaight  met  his  fate  with  that  patience  under  suifering 
that  had  so  long  been  his  lot,  and  with  that  magna- 
nimity which  marked  his  character.  As  a  statesman,  he 
was  pure  and  patriotic ;  as  a  parent,  sincere  and  atfec- 
tionate ;  his  memory  and  his  services  are  held  in  respect 
and  veneration. 

" He  was  not  born  to  shame. 


Upon  his  brow  shame  was  ashamed  to  sit, 

For  it  was  a  throne  where  Honor  might  be  crowned 

Sole  monarch  of  the  universal  earth." 

We  have  traced  the  genealogy  of  his  family,  (on  his 
mother's  side,)  from  1591),  and  his  own  career  Irom  his 
cradle  to  his  grave.  Our  sketch  Avould  be  incom- 
plete without  some  notice  of  his  descendants,  to  whom 
he  left  a  large  estate.  Of  his  marriage  with  Miss  Leach, 
two  sons  and  one  daughter  survived  him. 

I.  RiCHAEU  DoBBS  Spaight,  Jr.,  born  in  1796,  in 
Newbern;  educated  at  the  University;  where  he  gradu- 

•See  Wheeler's  History  of  North  Carolina,  11,  112. 


22  Richard  Dohhs  SpaUiht. 

ated  in  1815,  in  the  same  class  with  John  H.  Bryan, 
Rev.  Francis  L.  Hawks,  Wilie  P.  ^langnni  and  others. 
He  studied  law;  elected  to  the  Lejiislature  in  1819, 1820, 
1821  and  1822 ;  elected  member  of  Congress  1828  to 
1825  ;  again  elected  in  1825  to  the  Senate  of  the  State 
Legislature,  and  in  1831  elected  by  the  Legislature,  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State.  He  was  the  hist  Governor  elected 
by  the  Legislature;,  for  the  Constitution,  amended  in 
1835,  transferred  tlie  election  of  Goyernor  from  the 
Legislature  to  the  j)opular  yote.  He  died  unmarried  in 
1850. 

II.  Charles  B.  Spaight,  born  about  1800,  in  Xew- 
bern  ;  educated  at  the  Uniyersit\ ,  at  which  he  graduated 
in  1820,  in  the  same  chiss  witli  B.  Jb\  Moore,  Wm.  H. 
Battle  and  others.  Studied  law  ;  in  the  Legislature  in 
1829-1830.     Died  in  1831,  unmarried. 

III.  Makgaret  Spaight,  wlio  married  Hok.  John 
Robert  Doxni]ll.  Judge  Dimnell  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  born  near  Londonderry  in  1791  ;  came  to  North 
Carolina  when  eight  years  of  age,  under  the  auspices  of 
a  wealthy  uncle,  Robert  Donnell,  who  resided  at  Kings- 
ton, Lenoir  county.  He  was  educated  at  the  IJniyersity 
at  whicli  lie  graduated  with  the  hrst  hon(u-s  in  1807,  in 
the  same  class  with  Gavin  Hogg  and  others,  then  only 
16  years  old.  He  studied  law,  and  was  a  successful  and 
popular  advocate.  In  1815  he  was  elected  the  Solicitor 
of  the  Xewbern  District,  and  in  1819  he  Avas  elected 
Judge  of  the  Superior  Courts  of  Law  and  Equity,  which 
high  position  he  resigned  in  1830. 

It  is  a  beautiful  illustration  of  tlie  workings  of  our 
republican  system  of  goveriunent,  and  which  has  bnmght 
numy  men  of  energy,  learning  and  talents  to  our  shores 
from  abroad,  that  foreign  birth  is  no  impediment  to 
success,  and  that  without  any  friends,  save  such  as  vir- 
tue and  talent  may  secure,  and  no  fortune  but  ])rinci- 


Richard  Dobh.s  Spa  if/ /if.  23 

pics  of  honor  and  justice,  forciti^ncrs  may,  and  often  do, 
attain  to  the  highest  positicnis  of  trust,  honor  and  profit 
in  our  Kepublie.  This  woiuler-Morkinii'  prineipU'  lias 
no  parallel  in  the  history  of  any  nation,  ancient  or 
modern,  and  is  justly  a  source  of  national  pride.  How 
long  would  (Tallatin  have  had  to  live  in  Enghmd  to  have 
become  a  member  of  the  House  of  Lords?  or  how  long; 
would  Hamilton  had  to  live  in  France  to  become  a 
Chief  Minister  of  the  Treasury  ? 

In  his  otiicial  duties.  Judge  Donnell  was  learned, 
patient,  polite  and  incorruptible ;  a  man  of  strict  in- 
tegrity and  spotless  reputation,  as  well  as  a  kind,  con- 
siderate and  indulgent  parent,  and  an  obliging  and 
generous  neighbor.  He  wisely  eschewed  the  allure- 
ments of  politics,  and  devoted  himself  to  his  profession, 
to  his  family  and  his  property.  By  skilful  management 
of  the  large  property  which  he  had  obtained  by  his  own 
industry  and  inheritance  from  his  uncle,  and  by  marriage 
and  its  connection,  he  was  possessed  of  a  liberal  and 
ample  fortune.  This  was,  however,  much  impaired  by 
the  vicissitudes  of  war.  At  the  time  of  his  death  at 
Raleigh,  on  the  15th  of  October,  1864,  he  was  a  refugee 
from  his  princely  home  and  estates  after  the  Federal 
occupancy  of  ^ewbern.     His  descendants  are: — 

1.  Richard  Spaight  Donnell,*  who  was  born  about 
1819 ;  educated  at  the  University,  at  Avhich  he  graduated 
in  1839,  in  the  same  class  with  Clarke  M.  Avery,  Dennis 
D.  Ferebee,  Thomas  D.  Meares,  and  others.  He  was 
distinguished  as  a  lawyer.  His  first  public  service  was 
as  a  member  of  Congress  in  1817-1819.  He  was  elected 
to  the  Legislature  from  Beaufort  county,  in  18(31,  1862, 
1863  and  1864.  He  was  twice  elected  Speaker  of  the 
House.     He  died  unmarried  in  1867. 

*See  Appendix. 


24  Richard  Dobhs  Spaif/ht. 

2.  Mary,  was  the  second  wife  of  the  Hon.  Charles 
B.  Shepard.  Mr.  Shepard  was  a  native  of  Kewbern; 
born  5th  December,  1807;  educated  at  the  UniTersitv 
at  which  he  i>Tadnated  in  1827,  in  the  same  class  with 
A.  O.  P.  Xicholson,  of  Tennessee,  Warren  AVinslow 
and  others.  He  was  the  son  of  William  8hepard,  who 
was  also  the  father  of  AVilliam  B.,  James  B.  and  Fred- 
erick B.*  Tlieir  mother  was  a  Blount  of  tlie  old  and 
distinguished  family  of  that  name  in  North  Carolina 
and  in  England.  Their  Aunt  (Hannali  Sliepard)  married 
Mr.  Biddle  of  Philadelphia.  Slie  was  the  mother  of 
Commodore  Biddle  and  Nicholas  Biddle,  the  celebrated 
financier.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  in  Congress  from  1837  to  1841,  and  died 
26th  October,  184.3,  leaving  a  son  by  a  former  marriage, 
and  two  daugliters.  One  of  whom,  (Mary,)  married 
James  A.  Bryan,  of  N'ewbern,  whose  mother  Avas  a  Miss 
W^ashington,  and  has  one  child,  Charles  S.,  now  in  the 
14th  year  of  his  age,  and  Margaret,  who  married  Samuel 
S.  Nelson,  of  New  Orleans,  and  is  now  a  Avidow. 

3.  Fanxie  Donnell,  married  James  B.  Shepard. 
Mr.  Shepard  a\  as  a  native  of  Newbern ;  born  14th  No- 
vember, 1815.  Educated  at  the  University  of  North 
Carolina,  at  which  he  graduated  in  1834.  Studied  law. 
In  1839,  appointed  by  the  President,  United  States  Dis- 
trict Attorney  for  North  Carolina.  In  1842  and  1844 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  from  Wake  county. 
In  1840  a  candidate  for  Governor,  opposing  Governor 
Graliam,  and  in  1818  a  candidate  for  Congress,  oppo- 
sing General  Lawrence  O'B.  Branch.  He  died  in 
Raleigh,  on  17th  June,  1871,  soon  after  his  return  from 


*Millei'«  Kecollections  of  Newbern,  November  (1874)  imuiber  of 
Our  Living  aii((  Our  Dead,  page  252— "Old  Graves  iu  Beaufort," 
xvi:  890. 


Richanl   Dohhs  Sixuf/Itf.  25 

an  extended  sqjonrn  in  Enropc,  leaving  one  son,  John 
R.  D.  Sheparci,  who  graduated  at  the  University  in 
1865,  and  at  present  lives  in  Paris. 

4.  AxXTE  is  unniarried :  She  is  the  owner  of  the 
family  mansion  in  Newbern,  and  has  a  Summer  resi- 
dence in  Asheville,  North  Carolina. 

5.  C.  Spakjht  Donnell,  married  Thomas  JNIundell 
Keerl,  a  member  of  the  Bar,  now  residing  in  Balti- 
more. Mr.  Keerl  was  born  in  Baltimore ;  educated  at 
Princeton,  where  he  graduated  with  high  honors.  His 
paternal  grandfather  was  of  one  of  the  oldest  families 
of  Bavaria,  whence  he  came  to  America  and  settled  as 
a  pli ysician  in  Baltimore.  His  father  was  a  merchant 
of  tliat  place.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Prince 
George's  county,  Maryland.  Her  father,  Thomas  Mun- 
dell,  was  a  native  of  Ayreshire,  Scotland,  (Burns'  birth- 
place,) and  was  a  pupil  of  Dugald  Stewart,  and  descended 
from  the  celebrated  General  Leslie,  Cromwell's  rival. 
Her  mother's  mother  was  a  Miss  Bowie.  Her  mother 
was  a  Miss  Eversfield,  descended  from  Rev.  John  Evers- 
field,  of  the  ancient  family  of  Eversfield,  of  Sussex, 
England,  whence  he  came  to  Maryland.  He  was  a 
clergyman  of  ability  and  piety,  was  possessed  of  a  large 
estate,  and  was  the  uncle  of  Bishop  Claggett,  the  first 
Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  Mary- 
land.* 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keerl  have  one  son  living,  Eversfield 
Eraser,  now  in  the  sixteenth  year  of  his  age ;  hav- 
ing lost  their  oldest  child,  John  Robert  Donnell,  a 
noble  and  gifted  l)oy  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  his  age, 
by  a  stage  accident  in  the  mountains  of  Ncav  Hamp- 
shire. Their  second  child,  Richard  Dobbs  Spaight,  died 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  months,  in  Xoitli  Carolina. 

John  H.  Wheeler. 

*See  Spia^ue's  Lives  of  tlie  Episcopal  Clergy. 
4 


APPENDIX. 

The  Views  of  Lord  Macaulay  as  to  tlie  future  of  America,  as 
expressed  in  a  letter  to  Judge  H,  S.  Randall,  of  Virginia,  author 
of  the  Life  of  Jefferson,  dated ''  Holly  Lodge,  Kensington,  London, 
May  23rd,  1857": 

'■'■  1  have  been  convinced  tiiat  institutious  purely  denioeratie  must 
sooner  or  later  destroy  liberty  or  civilizatiou,  or  both.  In  Europe, 
where  the  population  is  dense,  the  effect  would  be  instantaneous. 
Either  the  i)oor  would  plunder  the  rich,  and  civilization  would  perish  ; 
or  order  and  prosperity  would  be  preserved  by  a  strong  military  gov- 
ernment, and  liberty  perish.  You  may  think  your  country  enjoys  an 
exemption  from  these  evils.  I  frankly  own  to  you  that  I  am  of  a 
different  opinion.  Your  fate  is  certain,  though  it  is  delayed  by  a 
phj'sical  cause.  So  long  as  you  have  a  boundless  extent  of  fertile 
and  unoccupied  land,  your  laboring  population  will  be  far  more  at 
ease  than  the  same  class  in  the  old  world,  and,  while  that  is  the  case, 
the  Jefferson  politics  may  exist  without  causing  any  fatal  calamity. 
But  the  time  will  come  when  New  England  will  be  as  thickly  peopled 
as  Old  l!]ngland.  Wages  will  be  as  low,  and  fluctuate  as  much  with 
you  as  with  us.  You  will  have  your  Manchesters  and  Birminghams, 
and  in  these  hundreds  of  thousands  will  assuredly  be  out  of  work. 
Then  your  institutions  will  be  fairly  brought  to  the  test.  Distress 
makes  the  laborer  mutinous  and  discontented,  and  he  listens  with 
eagerness  to  agitators  who  tell  him  that  it  is  a  monstrous  iniciuity 
that  one  man  should  have  a  million,  while  another  cannot  get  a  fall 
meal.  In  bad  years,  it  is  true  we  have  a  plenty  of  grumbling  here 
in  England,  and  often  some  rioting.  But  this  matters  but  little,  for 
here  the  sutterers  are  not  the  rulers.  The  supreme  power  is  in  the 
hands  of  a  select,  of  an  educated  class — of  a  class  which  knows 
itself  to  be  deeply  interested  in  the  security  of  property  and  the 
maintenence  of  order.  Ac(!ordingly,  the  malcontents  are  firmly  but 
gently  restrained.  The  bad  times  are  got  over,  without  robbing  the 
rich  to  relieve  the  indigent.  The  si)rings  of  national  pr()si)erity  soon 
begin  to  flow  again  ;  work  is  plentiful ;  wages  rise ;  and  all  is  tran- 
quility and  cheerfulness.  T  have  seen  England  pass  through  three  or 
four  t'mws  such  critical  seasons  as  I  have  described.  Tliroiigh  such 
seasons,  the  United  States  nuist  i>ass  in  the  couise  of  the  next  cen- 
tury, if  not  in  this.  And  how  will  you  get  through  f  1  heartily 
w  ish  you  a  safe  deli^•erancc.     But  my  reason  and  my  wishes  are  at 


Ajypendix.  27 

war,  and  I  cannot  help  foreboding  tlio  worst.  It  is  quite  plain  that 
yonr  ooverument  will  never  be  able  to  restrain  a  distressed  and  dis- 
contented majority— for  the  majority  is  the  government,  and  has  the 
rich,  who  always  are  in  a  minority,  at  their  mercy.  The  day  will 
(;ome  when  in  the  State  of  ^'ew  York,  a  mnltitn<le  of  i)eople,  none  of 
whom  has  had  more  than  half  a  breaktast,  or  expects  to  have  any 
dinner,  will  choose  the  Legislature.  Is  it  jmssible  to  doubt  what 
kind  of  members  will  be  chosen  '.  On  one  side  is  a  statesman  preach- 
ing patience ;  respect  for  vested  rights ;  strict  observance  of  public 
faith.  On  the  other  is  a  demogogue  ranting  about  the  tyranny  of 
capitalists  and  usurers,  and  asking  why  any  one  should  be  permitted 
to  drink  champagne  au<l  ride  in  carriages,  while  thousands  of  honest 
folks  are  in  actual  want  of  necessaries.  Which  of  the  two  candidates 
is  likely  to  be  preferred  when  he  hears  his  children  crying  for  bread? 
1  seriously  fear  that  you  will  in  some  such  season  of  adversity  do 
things  wliich  will  prevent  prosperity  from  returning— that  you  will 
act  like  people  who  in  a  year  of  scarcity  devour  all  the  seed  corn,  and 
thus  make  the  next  year  not  one  of  scarcity  but  of  absolute  famine. 
Then  come  spoliations— this  will  only  increase  the  distress ;  there  is 
nothing  to  stop  yon.  Your  Constitution  is  all  sail  and  no  anchor. 
When  society  has  entered  on  the  downward  progress,  either  civiliza- 
tion or  liberty  must  perish,  or  both.  Either  some  Cciesar  or  Napoleon 
will  seize  the  reins  of  government  with  a  strong  hand,  or  your  repub- 
lic will  be  as  fully  plundered  and  laid  waste  by  barbarians  in  the  20th 
century,  as  the  Koman  empire  was  in  the  tifth  century,  with  this  dif- 
ference, that  the  Huns  and  Vandals  who  ravaged  the  Roman  empire 
came  from  without,  while  yonr  Huns  and  Vandals  will  have  been 
engendered  within  vour  own  country  by  your  own  institutions.'' 

J.  H.  W. 


FKOM  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD  OF  YALE  COLLEGE. 

CLASS   OF    1S3S. 
Ricliard  Spaiglit  Doiincll. 

Born  at  New  Berne,  N.  C,  Sept.  20,  18lM).  His  father,  Hon.  John 
E.  Donnell,  descended  from  an  influential  family  in  the  Xorth  of 
Ireland;  inherited  wealth  from  a  relative  in  this  country;  came  to 
North  Carolina  when  a  youth;  was  educated  in  the  University  of 
that  State  and  became  a  distinguished  lawyer  and  judge.  The 
mother  of  Kichard,  Margaret  Elizabeth  Spaight,  was  the  only  daugh- 
ter of  Gov.  Kichard  L>obbs  Spaight,  the  Bevolutionary  patriot,  and 
sister  of  the  younger  Gov.  Spaight,  distinguished  in  Congress,  etc. 
Our  classmate  was  an  only  son  and  lost  his  mother  in  his  early 
youth,  but  retained  permanently  the  imi)ress  of  her  accomplishments 
and  virtnes.  He  was  taught  in  New  lierne  Academy;  entered  the 
class  in  its  Sophomore  year,  its  yonngest  member;  left  during  the 
first  term  of  Senior  year.  He  left  with  ns  a  distinct  recollection  of 
his  generous  impulses  and  noble  spirit.  He  went  to  the  University 
of  North  Carolina,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1839,  receiving  the 
same  year  the  honorary  degree  from  Yale  College.  He  studied  law 
with  his  father,  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  took  an  active  part  in 
politics  on  the  side  of  the  Whigs,  his  father  being  a  Democrat. 
Having  made  his  home  in  Washington,  N.  C,  in  1848,  Mr.  Donnell 
w  as  elected  to  Congress  and  took  his  seat  in  that  body,  its  youngest 
member,  and  just  beyond  the  age  required  by  the  Constitution.  He 
was  described  by  a  newspaper  correspondent  as  "being  fair  as  a  girl, 
with  tine,  light,  curly  hair  that  any  young  lady  might  envy."  He 
was  attentive  to  the  duties  of  liis  office,  and  took  an  active  and  influ- 
ential part  in  the  discussions.  On  the  29th  of  July,  1848,  he  de- 
livered a  speech  of  great  power  and  eloquence  in  the  House  of 
Eepresentatives,  on  the  Compromise  bill.  His  influence  was  always 
thrown  in  favor  of  Union  and  of  a  peaceful  settlement  of  the  sectional 
and  other  questions  at  issue.  Feb.  19,  1849,  he  made  a  speech  with 
characteristic  ability  and  earnestness  on  the  bills  to  establish  Terri- 
torial governments  in  California  and  New  Mexico,  dei)recating  the 
thought  of  disunion  and  anticipating  the  horrors  it  would  involve. 
He  declined  a  reelection  to  Congress,  and  left  that  body  with  a 
strong  impression  upon  his  associates  of  his  honesty  and  earnestness 
of  i)urpose,  and  of  his  sound  sense. 

After  leaving  Congress,  Mr.  Donnell  represented  Beaufort  County 
in  the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina,  and  was  elected  Speaker  of 
that  body.     At  the  crisis  of  the  civil  war,  under  date  of  July  16, 


Ajypcndix.  29 

1863,  he  printed  in  the  Ealeigh  Staiiclarrt  of  July  31,  a  long  letter 
on  the  ''History  of  Secession."  In  language  at  once  earnest  and 
temperate,  he  most  eloquently  urged  the  claims  of  peace,  and  mani- 
fested the  continued  love  for  the  Union  which  all  his  life  he  had 
cherished.  This  pajjcr  attracted  much  attention  throughout  the 
country  and  took  rank  as  one  of  the  most  important  publications 
elicited  by  the  war.  His  next  public  ser\ice  was  to  assist  in  the 
revision  of  the  Constitution  of  the  State.  Soon  after  this,  his  health 
rapidly  failed.  He  was  long  a  sutteier  from  gout,  which  he  inherited 
from  his  mother's  family.     He  died  at  New  Berne,  June  3,  1807. 

"Mr.  Donnell  was  one  of  the  most  eminent  lawyers  of  ISTorth 
Carolina.  Throughout  his  extensive  practice  no  instance  of  ungener- 
ous conduct  can  be  remembered,  and  no  case  of  dishonorable  influ- 
ence operating-  upon  him  can  be  exhibited.  Xot  a  syllable  question- 
ing his  honesty  and  integrity  was  ever  uttered.  Becoming  once 
unexpectedly  involved  for  a  friend,  he  surrendered  every  dollar  of 
his  large  estate,  and  did  it  with  such  cheerfulness  and  alacrity  that 
even  his  most  intimate  friends  looked  on  amazed.  In  the  circle  of 
his  friends  can  now  be  repeated  with  truth,  what  was  once  said  of 
his  lamented  mother,  he  was  the  signal  object  of  resjiectful  homage 
and  esteem,  and  where  he  lived  its  pride  and  ornament." 

Mr.  Donnell  was  never  married.     Three  sisters  are  living. 


